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Olivette commission approves two‑lot subdivision at 9504 Old Bonham Road, flags tree mitigation
Summary
The Planning & Community Design Commission approved a two‑lot preliminary subdivision at 9504 Old Bonham Road, subject to staff conditions and limits on demolition/construction areas, while asking developers to preserve canopy trees where possible and to provide a landscape plan with later building submissions.
The OLI VETTE City Planning & Community Design Commission on Sept. 5 approved a two‑lot preliminary subdivision plat for 9504 Old Bonham Road, voting 6–0 to accept staff recommendations and to limit demolition and construction staging areas.
Jack Carswell, planning and zoning administrator, told commissioners the lot was surveyed by an arborist who examined 26 trees and marked 21 as viable. "Out of the 26 that were examined, 21 of those trees were deemed viable, and 19 of those 26 trees were indicated to be removed," Carswell said during the staff presentation. He noted the report shows roughly 66% of viable trees on the site are proposed for removal because of driveways, utilities and proposed building footprints.
Commissioners pressed staff and the petitioner on whether approval of the preliminary plat implicitly authorizes tree removal or whether the commission could require preservation language to be recorded or revisited at the community design review stage. Carlos Trejo, director of planning and community development, said the commission can record preservation priorities in the preliminary‑plat action so the concerns appear on subsequent files "so it becomes formal," but the city currently has no permit‑based tree ordinance. "The city does not have a tree ordinance," Trejo said.
Petitioner Bob Wilmering, representing Companies Boulevard Custom Homes, said he typically does not remove trees until the existing house is demolished and that demolition usually occurs "30 to 60 days before any construction has started." Wilmering said he would follow any agreement reached with the commission but asked commissioners to avoid conditions that would unduly delay his schedule.
After public comment — including a local builder who described the process as confusing and urged clearer coordination between arborists, landscape plans and building timelines — Commissioner Sam Wallach moved to approve the preliminary subdivision plat as presented, with the condition limiting demolition and construction areas. Brian Lewis seconded the motion. The motion passed on a 6–0 roll call.
The commission noted the next steps: the petitioner will file a final plat for commission review and then council consideration (two readings) before recording; community design review of the new houses will follow, where landscaping and final tree‑mitigation details will be reviewed.
Authorities cited in the staff report included the City of Olivette subdivision regulations (Chapter 405) and chapter 422 stormwater rules referenced for residential development review.
